Hadriacus Palus as 2020 Mars Mission Landing Site: Massif-Bound Intercrater Basin on the Northern Hellas Rim

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First Landing Site Workshop for the Mars 2020 Rover Mission May 14-16, 2014

J. A. Skinner, Jr. 1, C. M. Fortezzo 1, T. M. Hare 1, K. L. Tanaka 1, and T. Platz 2,3 1USGS Astrogeology Science Center; 2Freie Universität Berlin, Planetary Science Institute 3

HRSC DTM over CTX mosaic Why Hadriacus Palus? Hadrian’s Marsh

Land on science T E R R A

Exhumed Noachian extensional basin sequence T Y R R H E N A Terby
Lacustrine, fluvial, and volcanic outcrops crater HADRIACUS
Representative highland plains units PALUS
2 channel systems, different provenance H E L L A S
30 m - >100 m exposed and accessible strata P L A N I T I A
High likelihood basement and volcanic rock
Mineralized fractures pervasive
Hydrated minerals in section

Site Name Hadriacus Palus T E R R A

Center Coordinates 26.919°S, 77.971°E T Y R R H E N A Terby crater Elevation (MOLA) -2623.1 ± 50.4 m HADRIACUS PALUS Slope (MOLA) 0.60 ± 0.58º H E L L A S Ellipse size 25 x 20 (nominal)

Prime Science Targets Subaqueous sediments P L A N I T I A Stratified units Channels Volcanics

• Ovoid basin 160 km x 80 km Physiographic Setting • Massifs (crustal blocks, volcanic edifice) • High, mid, and low plains (varied infill)

840 m • Impact crater materials • Exhumed basin sequences (cavi)

-2250 m

-3640m

-2058 m

1134 m

25 km HRSC DTM/CTX mosaic • Noachian to Hesperian terrains dominate Physiographic Setting • Major drainage from multiple directions • Diverse provenance for basin deposits • Timing relative to Hellas unresolved • Very ancient open basin system • Rover accessible cavi window to basin

25 km HRSC DTM/CTX mosaic Geologic Setting (1:250K, 75K, 20K)

4.06 ± 0.1 Ga Emplacement Basin sequences thickening southward A (3.39 ± 0.15 Ga Resurfacing)
Pre-Noachian (?) massifs
E. Noachian highland slopes
Cavi strata spans Noachian
M. Noachian to E. Hesperian (?) channels
Emplacement and exhumation 3.45 ± 0.25 Ga (1.57 ± 0.55 Ga) (3.38 ± 0.08 Ga) Record of representative highland basin

Cavi material Crater material Highland slope material Palus units Channel and fan Highland material material 3.73 ± 0.21 Ga A’ Massif material Stratified material A A’

(~4.1 Ga) (~4.1 Ga) Existing Data (High Resolution)

86.4% ROI 4.3% ROI CTX CRISM 100% Ellipse 0.0% Ellipse

14.3% ROI 20.79% ROI HiRISE MOC 2.7% Ellipse 0.0% Ellipse Priority Science Observations

5 km CTX mosaic (MSSS/NASA/JPL) Ellipse Center

Stratified deposits

Inverted channel (southern system) 2-6 m Center 8-14 m
Late Noachian to Early Hesperian
Subdued sinuous scarp N-S
Stratified deposits Stratified
Raised sinuous ridges E-W deposits 1 km
Raised ▲landform at termination CTX mosaic (MSSS/NASA/JPL)
Environment (exhumed) Key Observations
Lake bed deposits (~4 m) Exhumed strata, Basin-fan contact
Fluvial deposits (~12 m) Fluvial strata
Terminal fan (~10 m) Channel surface Southern Channel System
Sheds Nm and Nh 1 (EN basin rim)
Channel system
Multiple fluvial events
Abuts and breaches inverted channel
Linear ridges (mineralized fractures)
Key Observations
Lithologic gradation in channel surface (>10 m)
Breach and secondary channel (>20 m)
Mineralized fractures in basin floor (arrows)

>125 km length (20 km inverted)

Inverted Channelc Secondary Channel Inverted Channel

Tertiary Channel

1 km CTX mosaic (MSSS/NASA/JPL) Southern Channel System

Inverted Channel

Breach (Overtop?)

Hesperian exhumation 20-22 m
Southern channel system
Second fluvial event
Abuts and breaches inverted channel
Key Observations
Inverted channel surface (>10 m)
Breach and secondary channel (>20 m)
Lineaments in basin floor (arrow) 1 km
Track M-LN change in provenance CTX mosaic (MSSS/NASA/JPL) Northern Channel System
Noachian (~M-L?) emplacement
Sheds Npld (dissected regolith)
Northern channel system
Drains upper highland surfaces (Npld)
Abuts inverted channel
Multiple fluvial events
Key Observations
Inverted channel surface (>10 m)
Secondary channel (>20 m)
Mineralized ridges in basin floor (arrows)

>100 km length (25 km inverted)

1 km CTX mosaic (MSSS/NASA/JPL) Northern Channel System

Mineralized fractures (tectonism, hydrothermal)

Hesperian(?) exhumation
Channel-exhumed basin contact
Well-exposed mineralized fractures
Track M-LN change in provenance
Inverted channel tracks to NE

1 km CTX mosaic (MSSS/NASA/JPL) Cavi Margin Streamlined islands

Scoured Surface

Stratified palus surface 100 m

Brecciated unit

Brecciated unit

Stratified basin fill 500 m ESP_026412_1525 ESP_031924_1525 Beyond the Ellipse (Drive2 km to) Referent section Referent Section Columnar joints Columnar joints (lava, tuff) (lava, tuff) ~30 m thick

frt000091b1 25 m 30 m
Referent section Key exposures of Noachian geological record Channel x-sections
Details true basin filling strata
Deposition and exhumation

sinuous channels Inverted channel

100 m 50 m Mineralogy 2 km R = BD2300 Hydrated Phyllosilicate G = SINDEX Hydrated minerals, sulfates B = BD2300 Monohydrated sulfates

frt000091b1 Red = Phyllosilicates BD2300 ESP_032425_1525 Green = Sulfates BD2400 (SINDEX) 1 km across image Blue = Monohydrated Minerals BD2100 Existing Data (High Resolution)

86.4% ROI 4.3% ROI CTX CRISM 100% Ellipse 0.0% Ellipse

14.3% ROI 20.79% ROI HiRISE MOC 2.7% Ellipse 0.0% Ellipse Thermal Character

THEMIS daytime IR mosaic THEMIS nighttime IR mosaic

5 km NASA/JPL/ASU NASA/JPL/ASU RequiredData Coverage Data Coverage Needed

4 HiRISE Number Location Science Rationale

• Stratified lake bed units 1-3 Ellipse center • Inverted channels, terminations • Fracture and ridge unit 1 2 3 5 • Channel surface, canyon walls 4 Northern channel system • Palus marginal contact • Dissected highlands • Stratified basin upper units 5 Eastern channel system • Eastern channel and highlands • Eastern palus margin

CRISM Number Location Science Rationale

5 • Stratified basin surface units 1-2 Ellipse center • Inverted channels and fans 1

6 • Southern palus margin 2 3-4 Cavi • Correlate exposures 4 • Fractured deep basin units 3 • Channel walls and margins 5-6 Bounding highland slopes • Dissected highland source Geological Criteria (Qualified and Surpassed)

Threshold Geological Criteria Notes Subaqueous sediments or hydrothermal sediments
Stratified deposits (fluvial and lacustrine)

Hydrothermally altered rocks or low-T fluid-altered rocks ? Additional CRISM FRT required Presence of aqueous phase minerals in outcrop
Hydrated phases present in outcrop

Noachian/Early Hesperian age units
Pervasive throughout

Access to unaltered igneous rocks as float
Two major channel systems; impact ejecta Not a special region
Lies north of modeled 5 m ice depth

Potentially Qualifying Geological Criteria Notes Morphologic evidence for standing bodies of water
Two major channel systems and /or fluvial activity

Assemblages of secondary minerals of any age ? Additional CRISM FRT required

Presence of former water ice X None identified

Igneous rocks of Noachian age, of known stratigraphic Palus bounding intermediate highland units; ? relation … including exhumed megabreccia likely in basal sections of stratigraphic sequence

Volcanic unit of Hesperian or Amazonian age ? Hesperian pyroclastics; no Amazonian identified

High probability of “opportunistic” samples (e.g.,
Ejecta and secondary craters accessible; ejecta, mantle, xenoliths) mantle and xenoliths possible as float

Potential for resources for future human missions ? TBD Engineering Constraints

Land on site EDL Options
25 x 20 km ellipse location nominal (can shift)
RT and +TRN (useful, not critical)
Avoid local impact craters
More specified target
Hazard avoidance
Efficient pre-plan of traverse envelope
Traverse conditions favorable, unknown

Constraint Elevation below +0.5 km MOLA
Latitude ±30°of the equator
Landing ellipse, nominal (25 km x 20 km)

Landing ellipse, range trigger (18 km x 14 km)

<100 m relief at 1 to 1,000 m baseline lengths
<25 – 30 slopes at 2-5 m baseline lengths ? Rock abundance and height/occurrence probability ? Radar reflectivity >-20 dB and <+15 dB at Ka band ? Load bearing surface: TI >100 J m -2 K-1 s-½
Load bearing surface: Albedo <0.25
Summary - Hadriacus Palus Excellent and Accessible Geological Terrains

Representative section of Martian intercrater plains
Regional and local geology fairly well constrained (evolving)
Land on Science
Basin formation and filling processes
Fluvial and lacustrine infill (up to 30 m <10 km from ellipse center)
Diverse provenance (EN Hellas massifs, dissected regolith)
Exhumation and infill (multiple times)
Mineralized fractures
Go to Science
Traverse across Noachian-Hesperian boundary
Down basin
Down traverse (100 m section <15 km from ellipse center)
Important science issues to be resolved
Lacustrine and fluvial environment (MN
H)
Crustal formation (bounding massifs) T E R R A
Igneous processes (?)
Basin filling processes T Y R R H E N A
Channel sequencing and inversion Terby crater
Alteration processes (filled fractures) HADRIACUS
Syn- and post-tectonic sedimentation PALUS
Satisfies Science and Engineering H E L L A S
Remaining work
Mineralogic character and diversity from orbit P L A N I T I A
Correlate with exposed stratigraphy
Tighten stratigraphic bounds